Robert Saleh would take $100,000 out of his Woody Johnson-lined pockets for the chance to coach Jaxson Dart.
Maybe more than anyone, Saleh, whose four seasons as the Jets head coach expired because he never found the right quarterback, can appreciate the lifeline that Dart is providing to hot-seat head coach Brian Daboll.
The irony is that Saleh now is in charge of making life miserable Sunday for Dart, Daboll and the Giants as the 49ers defensive coordinator.
“He’s uber-talented,” Saleh said before Thursday’s practice, with a mix of awe and laughter. “I understand why Daboll went to the blue tent. I probably would’ve went, too.”
That’s a joking reference to Daboll incurring a $100,000 fine from the NFL (and the Giants being billed an additional $200,000) for “conduct detrimental to the league” because he looked into the sideline medical tent and spoke to Dart during his concussion test against the Eagles on Oct. 9. The league considered his actions creating the “perception” of interfering with an independent medical exam, though Daboll said that he just wanted to check on his prized rookie’s well-being.
San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks on during the second quarter of the 49ers’ win over the Seahawks on Sept. 7, 2025 in Seattle. Getty Images
In the uncertain landscape of evaluating college quarterbacks, Saleh thinks the Giants “hit on this one big time.”
“Man, they hit the jackpot on this kid. The jackpot,” Saleh later said in an exclusive interview with The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro. “He just has a Mahomes-esque quality. I’m just telling you, he is freaking good.”
Wait. Dart and Patrick Mahomes? The two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl winner?
“He’s definitely got the ‘it’ factor,” Saleh said. “He doesn’t flinch. The game’s not moving too quick for him. His ability to keep his eyes downfield when he scrambles — like his off-schedule stuff — is every bit of Mahomes.”
How can Saleh press pause on Dart’s development? By straying from his tendencies.
Brian Daboll with Jaxson Dart during Giants practice. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Dart has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for four touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 101.4 passer rating when not pressured, per NextGenStats. Those numbers change to 46.2 percent, four touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 72.4 rating when under pressure.
The 49ers have pressured opposing quarterbacks on only 25.9 percent of dropbacks — the lowest rate in the NFL — because Saleh believes in rushing four defensive linemen and holding blitzes. The defense is tied for the league lead with six fumble recoveries.
“I think the biggest thing that stood out to me initially just early in the week watching tape is ball disruption,” Dart said. “Two or three games were won for them off of the defensive side, punching the ball out late at the end of the game to steal games. They fly around.”
Daboll and Saleh became friendly as simultaneous head coaches in New York from 2022-24. Saleh praised Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for putting Dart in position to be successful by asking certain things of him but “doing a good job hiding it within their weekly game plans.”
Saleh had never watched any film of Dart before scouting the Giants this week. But now he also has heard him talk and lead.
“He’s got the personality to handle New York,” Saleh said. “It’s pretty cool. I’m pumped for Daboll. Brian shouldn’t be going anywhere. I think they just need to allow this kid to grow, and Daboll is way more than capable of developing this young man to be the quarterback that he can be for the Giants.’’
But if you don’t think Saleh’s quarterback opinion holds much weight because he cycled through six starters with the Jets and No. 2 draft pick Zach Wilson never developed, then maybe consider that Dart was just named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.
Or just take it from one of the NFL’s sharpest offensive minds — who developed Brock Purdy from “Mr. Irrelevant” into a $265 million franchise quarterback.
“I’ve been real impressed with (Dart),” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “They are mixing in a lot of RPOs (run-pass options), which he’s got a good feel for. He has a very good knack for off-schedule plays. Attacking, scrambling, you drop off any players in coverage, he finds them. His vision is pretty elite when it comes to seeing holes in the defense when he gets outside that pocket. Just watching him even play in the pocket, too, he knows how to play quarterback.”
Because Purdy has been sidelined by a toe injury since Sept. 28, the 49ers have been in the opposite pinch as the Giants: They have weapons playing with backup Mac Jones as opposed to Dart playing with replacements for Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers.
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“Jaxson’s done a great job of kind of getting everyone on the same page,” Kafka said. “Whether he’s meeting with them extra or talking to them on the sideline, just those open lines have been great.”
— Additional reporting by Mark Cannizzaro